Please consider the following:

Red = what Paul and the Corinthians ALREADY presently had at ~53AD writing of Corinthians
Blue = what Paul & the Corinthians NOT YET had, but were looking forward to attaining

1 Corinthians 13:8-12
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

It is seen, then, that when the same Holy Spirit that gave those things later causes the same to cease, it was because something better was to come to replace. Imperfect (incomplete/immature) was to be replaced with perfect (perfected/completed/matured). Just as childhood was replaced with manhood upon growing up, maturing. Seeing in a glass darkly was to be replaced with seeing face-to-face. Partially knowing was to give way to knowing fully & being fully known.

What does it mean to see God face-to-face? It means having a relationship with God similar to what Moses enjoyed:

Exodus 33:11
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face , as a man speaketh unto his friend.

Numbers 12:6-8
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold:

John 15:13-16 & John 16:29-30
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
... 16:29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without using figures of speech!"

When the Holy Spirit that gave tongues, prophesy, and (special) knowledge later causes them to cease it is because He brings something better - a "face-to-face" relationship with God that communicates even more clearly than tongues, prophesy, or (special) knowledge ever could. God does not cease to speak, rather, He speaks more clearly than ever. God speaks to His perfected-matured ones as a man speaks to his friends.

The question then becomes: "When does one experience this 'face-to-face' relationship with God?"

Revelation 22:4
They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
NKJV

There is a tranformation that takes place whenever one sees God as He is, 1 John 3:1-2. We who yet live in natural, mortal bodies of flesh & blood are not yet changed into a form like God, (for God is a Spirit, John 4:24), therefore, we conclude thet we have not yet seen His face, (1 John 3:2), therefore we have yet to fully enter the New Jerusalem City, Rev 22:4. So, where are we, then, in the Rev 21-22 picture? We who are still in natural, mortal bodies of flesh & blood are still at the gates "washing our robes" that we may enter into the City, 22:14, (or "keeping Christ's commandments," as some manuscripts read). Entrance to the New Jerusalem is granted via Resurrection, for angels guarding the ever open gates, Rev 21:12, make sure "no impure thing ever enters the City," Rev 21:27, for "flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God," 1 Cor 15:50. The determination to grant or deny entrance to the City is the Judgment that follows one's death, Heb 9:27, LINK.

So, it is concluded that the 'face-to-face' relationship with God is experienced upon being perfected, a term associated with the holy person's death & resurrection.

[collapse collapsed title=Related Scriptures]1 Corinthians 15:42-57
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4-5
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Revelation 15:2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Revelation 21:5-8
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
KJV[/collapse]

Meanwhile, as we prepare for the time of our own perfecting, we are to develop the mind of Christ while retaining ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. We can learn to think in line with the Word of God AND maintain an open mind towards supernatural communication with the Divine Being. This is how Christ, the Apostles and the Prophets all lived their lives this way and set the example for us.